Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby Resigns on Ash Carter's Orders

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has tendered his resignation at the request of newly sworn-in Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

The New York Times first reported Kirby's resignation, saying that Carter prefers a civilian to hold the job.

Kirby is a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Carter "expressed reservations about having a uniformed officer represent the Defense Department in its daily dealings with the news media," the Times reported.

No replacement has been announced, and Kirby will continue in the job until someone takes his place.

Kirby confirmed the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday.

"One of the questions that I think he wants to rhetorically ask, or consider, is not just who the individual is, but what that individual represents, and whether it’s appropriate or not to have a uniform up here," Politico reported Kirby as saying. "Those are fair questions for him to ask as he comes into the job."